La Marañosa

The Nationalists, as was the fashion of the Army of Africa, advanced in mobile columns and overwhelmed the unprepared Republicans.

Escámez on February 6 appeared at Ciempozuelos and overran the XVIII Brigade, which lost 1,800 men.

Rada's men took La Marañosa hill, 700 metres high, which overlooked both banks of the Jarama.

The two Republican battalions atop La Marañosa vainly stuck to their cliff-top defenses and died there to the last.

[2] From this hill top position, the Nationalists could dominate the river crossing with artillery and machine gun fire.